Rhythm & Views

Queens of the Stone Age

Having experienced some Spinal Tap moments, Queens of the Stone Age have returned with Lullabies to Paralyze.

The new offering comes without bassist Nick Oliveri, who was fired due to his rumored abuse of the rock lifestyle, or Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl as the session drummer for the album, as he was on 2002's Songs for the Deaf.

The new band members, bassist Troy Van Leeuwen and drummer Joey Castillo, fail in comparison to their predecessors. The two have a more flat sound, leading to a sound nowhere near as powerful as on previous Queens discs.

Possibly written about Oliveri, "Everybody Knows That You Are Insane" switches from a blues number to the group's classic distorted, driving sound.

Lullabies to Paralyze was an excellent choice as an album title, as it perfectly represents the mood that frontman Josh Homme has managed to create. The music and lyrics are more gloomy and melancholy than any previous ("I know you gotta be free to kill yourself" from "Tangled Up In Plaid").